AI urges Bangladesh to commute death sentences
Sunday, 22 November 2009
Amnesty International (AI) has urged Bangladesh not to execute five convicted killers, former army officers, sentenced to death for the assassination of Bangladesh's founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, reports bdnews24.com.
The international human rights watchdog said that the murder of Sheikh Mujib and his family members on August 15, 1975 were grave human rights abuses and the killers should be brought to justice.
"However, bringing people to justice must not itself violate the human rights of the accused," it said.
In a statement issued Friday, AI urged President Zillur Rahman to commute the death sentences "as a matter of urgency".
It also urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to request the President to commute the sentences.
"Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases regardless of the nature of the crime, the characteristics of the offender, or the method used by the state to kill the prisoner," said AI.
The international human rights watchdog said that the murder of Sheikh Mujib and his family members on August 15, 1975 were grave human rights abuses and the killers should be brought to justice.
"However, bringing people to justice must not itself violate the human rights of the accused," it said.
In a statement issued Friday, AI urged President Zillur Rahman to commute the death sentences "as a matter of urgency".
It also urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to request the President to commute the sentences.
"Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases regardless of the nature of the crime, the characteristics of the offender, or the method used by the state to kill the prisoner," said AI.